International technology group Andritz has successfully started up a complete refrigerator recycling line at the Derichebourg España facility in Madrid. The new recycling plant can process up to 120 fridges containing CFCs and VHC (pentane) per hour, Andritz announced at the end of last week.
"At Derichebourg España we aim to recycle and reuse as much material as possible while operating our facilities with maximum efficiency, lowest environmental impact and high safety standards," said Ruth Carpallo Sánchez, engineering manager at Derichebourg España, in comments made at the commissioning.
The heart of the newly installed line is the ADuro QZ shredder, said Andritz, adding that the line operates as a completely sealed system, separating fridges into their components using the effects of impact forces. A subsequent matrix degassing extracts the blowing agents from the insulating foam, enabling the recycling plant to fulfil the highest European environmental standards, said the technology supplier. Valuable fractions such as iron, copper, aluminium, plastics and polyurethane foam are made available for reuse.
In addition to the shredding plant, Andritz also supplied the equipment which feeds the fridges into the shredder, including the safety technology, as well as the conveyor technology for discharging and transporting the processed material to subsequent process steps.
